Fifth-wheel for vehicles



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JAMES MOENTEE, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

FIFTH-WHEEL FOR VE H ICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,839, dated September 9, 1884.

Application filed January 28, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES MoENTEE, of Oovington, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fifth-Wheels for Vehicles, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of a vehicle-axle with my improved fifthwheel: Fig. 2 is a perspective view, a position of the fifth-wheel with the inwardly-projecting lug.

The fifth-wheels in general use have the clips around the axle secured immediately beneath the sides of the fifth-wheel. In case the threads of the clip become worn, the clip itself broken, or in anyway disarranged in such a manner as to require its being removed for repairs, great difficulty is frequently experienced on account of the juxtaposition of the parts. In order that this defect may be over come, I provide a fifth-wheel plate, and, in place of the usual clip being secured to the lower side of it, I have inwardly-projecting lugs or wings, which rest upon the axle, and an independent clip placed around the axle in such a manner as to secure the wings in position, and with them the fifth-wheel, all of which will now be fully set forth in detail.

In the drawings, A; is the axle of any ordinary vehicle, and A the lower plate of a fifthwheel,fornied of the usual material, either full plate or in segmental parts. The usual clips on the under side of the plate and formed integral therewith are dispensed with, and in their place I provideinwardly-projecting]ugs or wings B, the under side in the same plane as the side of the plate A, the upper side, E,

slightly rounded or oval. preferably of the same width as the upper side of the axle upon which they rest, while they are a little longer than the width of an ordinary clip, in order that the inner end, 0, may

be turned up slightly. A clip, D, of any ordinary pattern,used to secure the plate to the axle, is placed around the axle and over the wing and bolted in position. The upturned end 0 of the wing aids in keeping the clip in position. As will readily be seen, in case the clip becomes broken or worn,it can be repaired or replaced by another without it being necessary to detach the entire fifth-wheel .in order to accomplish the same purpose.

I am, fully aware that there are vehicles wherein the fifth-wheels are formed as a air cular plate or disk and having outwardlyprojecting lugs but I am not cognizant of the fact that there are fifth-wheels wherein the parts are formed as a rim or segment thereof, 6 with in wardly-proj ecting lugs for forming the clip-connections.

Vhat I claim is The combination of the axle A and clips D with thelower fifth-wheel plate, A, the ends of which are disconnected, and said plate being provided with the inwardlyprojecting wings B, which are rounded on their upper surface, and having upturned ends 0, all as described and set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of January, 1883, in the presence of witnesses.

JAMES MOENTEE.

lVitnesses:

'J. S. ZERBE, C. D. ZERBE.

These wings are 40 

